Friday, November 20, 2009

The Hits...

...keep getting better. I have got so many deals for you today, I feel like I'm that furniture salesman in the Gallery Furniture ads (fellow current and former Houstonians get this reference, the rest of you, just smile and nod). At the beginning of the month I introduced you to my lovely, new sponsor, r0ssie and her amazing supplies for all things itajime. Well, r0ssie has a special offer for you today and I've combined that with a dye tutorial and...Dharma Trading Company, home of more dye supplies than you could shake a turkey leg at, is offering my readers, that's you people, a special freebie. It's all so amazing I don't know where to begin.How about a little encouragement for those of you who might be on the fence about trying this technique.

I finished this quilt earlier this week and like my Twinklequilts both large and small, all the shapes are dyed not pieced.

And, lest you think I'm the only one whose piecing tops and making quilts using this dye technique, feast your eyes on this:

This is r0ssie's latest itajime venture. She's not only combining a variety of differently sized shapes, but an innovative shape she designed called the reverse twinkle.

The circle is cut out of the square. It's brilliant and practically makes my head swim with possibilities.

If you're still concerned that this craft might be more than you can handle then let me provide you with all the knowledge you'd need to clamp your own fabric sandwich, mix a dyebath and dye your fabric. I've titled this tutorial Clamping and Dyeing Fabric: A Basic Itajime Primer. If you click on the link in the right hand sidebar, it will take you there.

Are you ready to get started? Do you want to gather your supplies and dye like a crazy person? Good. The first step is to get some of the essential materials you'll need to craft your own amazing fabric. Where should you go? I'm so glad you asked because I have a definite opinion about this. I have been a customer at Dharma Trading Company for at least 15 years. I buy all my dyes and undyed fabric there. I used to dye pre-sewn white garments and I bought those at Dharma as well. I love the place and I'm giving it my stamp of approval. You don't have to buy large quantities to purchase from Dharma. They sell dyes in 2 ounce containers. You could pick up a few colors and some of the auxiliary chemicals(check the tutorial for a materials list) and you'd be ready to go. Also, because I want you to try this technique and r0ssie wants you to try this technique and the folks at Dharma want you to try this technique, Dharma Trading Company is offering a free 2 ounce jar of dye to anyone who places an order using this link.

The second step is to get some of r0ssie's wonderful shapes. You can do that by following the link on my sidebar directly to her online store or you can leave a comment here and be entered to win what can only be described as a smorgasbord of shapes including her newest offerings, Reverse Twinkles. The shapes offered in the giveaway are the same ones r0ssie used to create the quilt top pictured. She calls this design her Kalka Quilt because, "it is half inspired by Kaffe Fassett and his lovely way of scaling blocks up and down and half inspired by Malka Dubrawsky and her twinkles."

I am so blushing.

An entire Kalka bundle is up for the taking. That's three pairs of 2" circles, three pairs of 3.5" reverse twinkles, two pairs of 4" circles, two pairs of 6.5" reverse twinkles, one pair of 6" circles,and one guide for cutting a 9.5" block with a 6" circle in the middle.

This is an unbelievable giveaway. There are no excuses left. Leave a comment, stop over at Dharma Trading, and let the fun begin.

107 comments:

I really want to dye fabrics again. I also wanted to ask about your quilt hanger, is that from IKEA? It looks similar to one I've seen there. I need a better way to hang quilts and I love what you have.

We watched you do this on quilting arts and my daughter and I wanted to do this...I just ordered a couple shapes on Etsy but would love to win this set! Thanks for inspiring and making it so much easier to get started!

oh my good.ness Malka!!! I have some of Rossie's shapes but haven't used them yet since I'm still collecting other necessary supplies. I'm REALLY loving the triangles, so awesome! Thanks for offering up this amazing giveaway!!

I AM SO DOING THIS!!...I love the idea of the reverse twinkle!.. but I think I'll have to wait till next summer when the weather is right for playing outside!! Some day I will have a dye studio in my basement!... ( after the new septic system is installed..)~sigh~

How clever clamping the open circle shape down and then dying the fabric. I did some great dying many years ago and now you have INSPIRED me to take it up again. Thanks for the great give away. OOh I hope I win.

I don't know which I love more, your windmill quilt or that awesome green wall. I have been dying to start dyeing again... it's been years. This would be the perfect reason to get my feet wet again. *fingers crossed*

So excited Malka! I cleaned out my toolbox and found 4 clamps last week. I was so excited because I read your first post about r0ssie's shapes. I just placed my order for dye with Dharma. The only thing missing is the shapes. Thanks for the inspiration ... and the dye!!

Aack - The Circle in the Square - bloody brilliant! I can only imagine the fun you will have with this idea. Sign me up for a chance to get in on the fun, too, please - and congratulations on inspiring a quilt together with Kaffe!

I absolutely ADORE that triangle quilt you made. I looked at it on flickr.... made it as big as I could to study what you did. It's really really fabulous. I would LOVE to win the tools (though tbh, I'm pretty close to buying the stuff and just jumping in!)

first off...I GOT YOUR BOOK AND I LOVE IT!!!!! thank you, you did a really great job. i bought an electrical wok for a dollar at st. vinnie's to melt wax but mark took over and made us homemade french fries with johnson's potatoes (they are a local potatoe farm up here) and they were incredible. so i guess i am on the lookout for another electric fry pan. i still want to use soy wax, do you think this will be a problem? i am going to get some of rosie's shaps as soon as i can. i already do the folding and dipping but have never clamped yet, so am excitied about trying that. god has thrown a big rock in my path the other day and i am trying to deal with that with positive thought and prayer until we find out what really is going on. the wrost...incurible bone marrow cancer...the best just funky blood levels for the rest of my life, hey, maybe it just goes along with my healthy heart that has its own little funky rhythm..we can only hope and pray that is it....but...your book is fabulous and cannot wait to start doing a bit of batiking. have lots of dyed fabric that could use something and i think i know what it is :-)

If I happen to win I promise to try this technique and send an image of the final product. I make promises because I can't break them, therefore it makes me do things, instead of just thinking about it.

I do have a question though - HOW DO YOU CLEAN THE WAX off? That was the only thing I could not find mentioned in the book. And before I try this I would like to know that. I do own quite a few stamps like you used in the book, so I am really excited about this!

I have wanted to try this since I saw your article in Quilting Arts Magazine! It would be great to have this nice collection of tools to get me started. The reverse twinkle is awesome. nacyanne@sbcglobal.net

Your quilt is wonderful ! So much movement as wellas color....a really nice combination. And a big thank you for sharing your technique & know how...youare very generous & a great teacher. I'd love to giveit a try....count me in !

Kathy- About removing the wax, check the chapter titled, "Finishing Up: Aftercare for Waxed and Dyed Fabric". There's a part titled removing the wax that explains how to do just that.

Susan- You can't use soy wax with the type of dyeing I detail in the book. Soy wax is water soluble and the dyeing I do is immersion dyeing. If you'd like to use soy wax, you're going to need to use a dye painting approach to coloring your fabric.

Okay, you got me now! I would love a set of shapes to start clamping and dyeing like a crazy woman! I love your new shape in your twinkle quilt, it is truly wonderful!!Congrats on all your wonderful successes!

Malka, I love your book and can't wait to try the dying. I used to dye my own fabric following a tutorial on Lisa Call's blog years ago. Buit for the past several years I have been using commercial fabric and didn't even think of dying it to make it my own - you are brilliant for coming up with this. I've been following your work for years via the quilt national catalogs and never cease to be amazed by you talent and ingenuity. congratulations on your book and it's success - you so deserve it!

I love this! I've been wanting to try dyeing, and I've been just a big chicken. I am so encouraged with all of the help that you have offered here, there can't be any more excuses! Thanks so much, and I absolutely love what you did on this quilt!

I recently bought your book and am a long time admirer of your work! I want so badly to give dyeing a try, but with having a newborn, and Christmas coming I've only got as far as drooling over the book lol! This prize package would get me so much closer to actually dyeing, how fun would that be! :)

I am so excited. I recently bought your new book, Color Your Cloth, and can't wait to go to goodwill to look for an electric skillet so i can start a project! I have a friend that's been doing it for years and always thought it was too involved, but you make it seem like play and i love to play with bright colors and fabric piecing! You did a great job of explaining the process!

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About Me

Hi and welcome!
I'm an artist living in the best city in Texas. I love all things fiber and taking pictures of those things and maybe a few more.
I get a huge kick out of your comments, so keep them coming. If you have a question, please leave it in the comments section and I'll reply there as well. If you'd like to email me, my address is malka@stitchindye.com.